Add Innisfil name to riding: mayor

By Bruce Hain Barrie Advance  Sep 05, 2012

INNISFIL/BARRIE — Innisfil could be joining Barrie in a boundary shuffle of federal electoral boundaries, with the new riding tentatively being called Barrie South.

But the mayors of both municipalities agree the riding should be called Barrie-Innisfil to reflect the area more accurately.

Innisfil Mayor Barb Baguley and Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman met last week to discuss the proposed boundary realignment.

“It really speaks well of us being neighbours and understanding each other’s situations,” Baguley says. “He recognized the sensitivity and I am going to suggest to Innisfil council we write a letter to the commission asking that Innisfil be part of the new name or a neutral name is chosen for the riding.”

“The areas around Barrie could have more imaginative names,” Lehman agrees. He says he wouldn’t object to seeing the name “Innisfil” be included in the proposed Barrie South district.

“I think we work much better with our (municipal) neighbours now than in the past and will continue to do so,” Lehman says. “If the commission really wants to reflect the area, use a name that reflects it.” 

Obviously, Baguley is pleased with Lehman’s sentiments.

“We feel it when we adjust ward boundaries,” she says. “People become emotionally attached. I’m looking forward to seeing the rationality behind it. I’m hopeful we can hold a meeting in Innisfil.”

The issue was expected to be raised at last night’s council meeting. 

Last week, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario (FEBCO) suggested the City of Barrie should be composed of two ridings – tentatively called Barrie North and Barrie South, in time for the Oct. 19, 2015 federal election.

The entire Town of Innisfil would be absorbed into the proposed Barrie South electoral district.

“We have not received any information at the municipality. My information has come from the media and the FEBCO website. It’s not surprising to see realignment in high growth areas,” Baguley says.

Innisfil has gone through this process before.

Formerly part of the riding of Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford, the federal and provincial boundaries were adjusted in 2002 to form the York-Simcoe riding that includes Georgina, Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.

“We’ve been through this more than once,” Baguley says. “I just want the public to have input. Often, they look at commonalities of interest. I’m not sure if Innisfil and Barrie residents have more in common than Bradford and Innisfil residents. We’ve had MPs and MPPs from Barrie in the past. We have good representation now.”

A public information meeting will be held at Barrie City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. to hear the recommendation from FEBCO.

By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope September 5 2012

The name ‘Barrie South’ simply won’t do, if Innisfil is included in the new federal electoral district, says councillor Richard Simpson.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has proposed a new electoral map for the province, which will undergo public scrutiny this fall. Under the plan, 15 new ridings will be created, in a move that will also have implications for Innisfil. The town will be placed in the new ‘Barrie South’ riding, in a district that stretches from Highway 90 to just south of Highway 89, and from County Road 27 to Lake Simcoe.

However, the new district name should include ‘Innisfil’, to reflect the town’s status within Simcoe County, said Simpson.

“This will recognize the two major municipalities lying within the new district,” he said, during a council meeting last night. “We need to take action.”

During the meeting, council passed a resolution asking Elections Canada to add Innisfil to the district name. Staff will also request a delegation at a public hearing planned for Barrie City Hall on Wednesday October 17, at 2 p.m.

Council also wants the commission to host an evening hearing in Innisfil, to give residents a fair chance to review the plans.

“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to (Barrie) mayor Jeff Lehman, and he understood the rationale,” said mayor Barb Baguley. “Hopefully, we won’t have much of an uphill battle.”

The new districts are being created in response to the increase in Ontario’s population, from over 11.4 million in 2001 to nearly 12.9 million, as captured in the 2011 Census.

The proposed new electoral districts are located in Brampton (two), Cambridge, Durham (two), Hamilton, Markham (two), Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Simcoe, Toronto (two) and York. As well, despite a slight population decline, the commission has maintained 10 electoral districts in Northern Ontario as a minimum for its effective representation.

Under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, the commission’s main aim in redrawing boundaries is to divide the province into electoral districts as close to the average population as reasonably possible. The population of a district should remain within 25 per cent of the average, once consideration is given to communities of interest or identity, and historical and geographic factors. A commission can depart from the 25 per cent guideline to deal with extraordinary circumstances.

If the boundaries are passed as planned, the Barrie South riding would have a population of over 104,700.

“The town has carefully and purposefully established a unique identify for itself through a bold strategic direction and an ambitious branding exercise, and may wish to consider providing a formal position to the federal government, with respect to the name and boundaries of this proposed riding,” said deputy clerk Karen Fraser, in a letter addressed to council.

To review the proposed changes, visit www.federal-redistribution.ca.

by Chris Simon Editor Innisfil Scope September 5 2012

Take a deep breath everyone, before letting the conspiracy theories fly over Innisfil’s potential federal electoral boundary shift.

Last week, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario announced a series of proposed changes to riding maps throughout the province. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the growth in southern Simcoe County over the last few years, one of the proposed changes will have implications for Innisfil. Under the proposal, which will undergo public consultation in the fall, Innisfil would move from the York-Simcoe riding into the newly created ‘Barrie South’. The boundary would run from Dunlop Street in Barrie to just south of Highway 89, and between County Road 27 and Lake Simcoe. The population of the riding would be over 104,700.

Similar redistribution is taking place throughout the province. Ontario will gain 15 electoral districts as a result of the increase in its population from over 11.4 million in 2001 to nearly 12.9 million, as captured in the 2011 Census.

Under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, the commission’s main goal is to divide the province into electoral districts as close to the average population as reasonably possible. The population of a district should remain within 25 per cent of the average, once consideration is given to communities of interest or identity, and historical and geographic factors. A commission can depart from the 25 per cent guideline to deal with extraordinary circumstances.

The proposed new electoral districts are located in Brampton (two), Cambridge, Durham (two), Hamilton, Markham (two), Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Simcoe, Toronto (two) and York. As well, despite a slight population decline, the commission has maintained 10 electoral districts in Northern Ontario as a minimum for its effective representation.

While on the surface it may seem like there’s a broader political thought process going on, this potential decision is really about balancing numbers. The people deciding on these new boundaries likely have little knowledge about the controversy surrounding Barrie’s annexation of Innisfil land a few years ago, or the political and social animosity that developed as a result. These are federal bureaucrats, who have no influence over muncipal and provincial planning decisions. It appears they have objectively looked at population maps and a few manmade and natural geographical boundaries, to determine a way to best represent the local population.

And frankly, it seems like they’ve done a decent job, to this point. Lets face facts — there may be greater mutual benefit for Innisfil residents, in an alignment with the southern portion of Barrie. Right now, the York-Simcoe riding stretches from Innisfil to Georgina. Constituency offices for York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan and MPP Julia Munro are relatively far away, and inconvenient for most Innisfil residents. As Innisfil continues to position itself as a strong urban centre within the county, the divide between York Region-based municipalities like Georgina, King Township and East Gwillimbury is only going to grow.

When leaving Innisfil, most residents already tend to head north into the city, for shopping, doctor’s appointments and other services. And the vast majority of residents commuting outside of Innisfil for work, who aren’t headed to the Greater Toronto Area, are going to jobs in Barrie.

There’s also some indication of a willingness by local politicians to ask for a change in the name of the riding, which would more accurately reflect the area. Locally, a public hearing will take place at Barrie City Hall on Wednesday October 17, at 2 p.m. Residents can provide input on the proposal at that time, though there’s also a chance a second meeting could be held in Innisfil at some point over the next few months.

A fair discussion could take place about what the loss of Van Loan (a prominent member of the governing Conservatives) and Munro (a longtime, influential Progressive Conservative MPP) will have locally. Both are quite popular in Innisfil, have a consistent presence in the community, and represent the area well through their respective roles. But there’s simply no substance to the belief that this decision will have broader municipal implications years from now. If anything, it may actually help Innisfil residents prosper, and allow the municipality to mature.